Thermal-control system



Sept. 24, 1929; v. G. VAUGHAN THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 6, 1926 INVENTOR V/do/' lbz/gban.

WITNESSES ATTbRNEY Sept. 24, 1929. S v. ca. VAUGHAN 1,729,561

THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM FiledMay 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CH6 D Fig 5 fT/Me I l I I l I I l I I l I I l I I I I Mafor Load WITNESSES: INVENTOR V/tfsrl aug/wn l ATTQRNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1929 "'uNrrEo STATES PATENT OFFICE VICTOR G. VAUGHAN, OF MANSFIELD, 0151( ASSIGNOR TO WEST'INGHOUSE ELECTRIC &; MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A.

QORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA THERMAL-CONTROL SYSTEM App1icationfi1ed-May 6, 1926. Serial No. 107,306.

I energy translating device.

Inpracticing my invention, I provide a thermally-actuable means directly operatively associated with an enerly translating device, anda second thermal y actuable means 15 energized in accordance with the current traversing an energy translating device and out of thermal communication therewith, and a circuit controlling means governed by the plurality of thermally actuable means. In the drawings, I, Figure 1, is a view, in side elevation, of a motor having associated therewith a thermostat embodying my inventionfa schematic diagram of connectionsof the system being also shown;

Fig. 2 is a View, in section through a ther mostatic device. Fig. 3 is a View, in section therethrough,

taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2. 30 Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof, and,

Fig.5 is' a set of curves illustrating the relation of over-load to times of heating of a motor and of the thermally actuable means. Referring more-particularly to Fig.1 of the drawings, an energy translatingdevitre 11 is there illustrated as comprising an altermating current motor. of usual desigmwhich is energized from three-phase conductors 12, andanautomatic circuit interrupting means 13 located in'the motor energizing circuit, and provided with an actuatin and holding coil 14, which is eflective tohol the circuit breaker in its closed position so long as the coil is energized V Means for interrupting an energizing circuit through the holding coil 14, comprises a plurality of thermal relays 15, one of these being connected in each of at least two of the conductorsofthe motor supply circuit, and a therniostat,16,,of a different type, which is mounted on the motor from itself, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The thermal relays 15 may be of any type usually employed for such purposes and embodyinga heating coil 17, which is traversed 5 by the motor current of one phase, nd a thermally-actuable element 18, which is provided with a contact member mounted thereon and actuated to operatively engage or be disengaged from a stationary contact member 19. So long as the current traversing the heating coil, 17 is below a predetermined value, the thermal element 18 is in operative engagement with the fixed contact member 19, which may be made adjustable in a man ner well known in the art.

The thermostat 16 comprises a tubular base member 21, the lower edge portion thereofbeing curved to permitof mounting it against the outer surface of an energy translating device 11, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. An intermediate terminal-supporting member 22 is provided with a flange portion and two supporting lugs 23 and 24 extending laterally above the surface of the flange portion. A cover member 25, also of substantially tubular form is provided. The flange ofthe 7 member 22 is secured against the outer portion of the base member 21 by a plurality of screws 26. The cover member 25 is held against the intermediate member 22 by a plurality of relatively long machine screws 27, the threaded ends of which fit into screw threaded openings 28 in the flange portion of the member 22. i

The base member 21 is provided with an innef annular flange 56 for receiving a thermally actuable switch 29. The thermallyactuable switch 297comprises a base 31, a bi-' metallic disc 32 supported by a single central stud 33v from the base 31, suitable contact members insulatedly mounted on thebase 31, and contact bridging members insulatedly mounted on the disc 32 and movable therewith. A plurality of terminal members 34 and 35 are provided for the switch 29. While a --particular form of thermally-actuable means is illustrated and described, the para ticular details of construction thereot form no part of my invention and further details of description are omitted.

A plurality of terminal members 36 and 37 areinsulatedly mounted on the lugs 23 and 24 and may be of any desired construction, but are here shown as machine bolts provided with tightening nuts, insulating discs 38 and 39 being proyi'ded at each side of the supporting lugs together with a bushing 41, to properly insulate the terminal members 36 and 37 from the supporting lugs. The terminal 34on the switch is connected by a suitable conductor 42 to terminal member 36, and a similar conductor 43 conne ts terminal member 35 to terminal member 7 Means for providingan enclosedor en cased entrance for a plurality of control circuit conductors 44 and 45 into the relay 16 comprises a tubular member 46, of L-shape which may either be screw threaded into a suitable central opening 47 in the cover member 25 or may beheld in suspension in the same position by any other means well known in the art. A conduit member 48 may contain the two conductors 44 and 45, and an end portion of the'member 46 maybe clamped aroundthe conduit 48 by a clamping member 49 and a clamping screw 51 associated therewith.

Referring more. particularly tp Fig. 5 of the drawings, I have there shown a number of .curves which illustrate the relation-oftiine of operation of thermal relays, or the time required for the motor to reach a predeter- 'mined temperature value, in relation to percentages of motor load values. Curve 52 11- lustrates the time required for a predetermined portion of an energy-translating device to reach a predetermined limiting temperature. The predetermined portion of the energy translating device is preferably the hottest portion thereof. Thisis necessary for the reason that an energy-translating device comprises a magnetizable material, a current-conducting material, and electric-insulating materialseparating the other two materials. The magnetizable material, usually iron or steel either in the form of a casting or in the form of laminations, is heated by eddy currents and hysteresis currents, while the current conducting material is traversed and heated by electric current. Heat flows from the inner portions of the energy-translating device where it is generated to other portions or parts of the translating device where the temperature is normally lower because of a loss of heat therefrom, either by radiation, conduction or convection.

The flow of heat through the iron or steel is quite different from the flow of heat through the copper. The heating effect of long continued moderate over-loads is also quite different from the heating eifect of momentary heavy over-loads. It has been found to be quite difiicult to provide a single thermal relay which will copy or reproduce the temperature. conditions ofthe hottestportion of the energy translating device in order that the circuit thereof may be de-energized as. soon as the temperature of the hot spot has reached an undesirably high value. The hereinbefore described difference in the effect of small ormoderate over-loads and of relatively large over-loads is clearly shown in the variation of the slope of curve 52. It may be noted that a moderate over-load can be carried by an energy-translating device for'a relatively long period of time without injury to the device itself, but that the length of time within which it can carry a relatively heavy overload is very much shorter.

Curve 53 illustrates the time of operation for a thermostat of the type hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figs; 2 to 4 inclusive, and shown as being directly, operatively associated with-the magnetizable material of the translating device. By a proper selection of the thermal relay 16, it is possible to have its times of operation for moderate overloads! of the translating device, approach very closely the permissible times during which the translating de'vice can be subjectcd to these moderate overloads. How- 'ever, if the translating device issubjected to by the right hand portion thereof extending above the right hand ,portion of curve 52. It is therefore highly ndesirablc to permit a thermostat of this ty e to control a trans.

lating device by itself, for, while it operates satisfactorily on'nioderate overloads, it will operate much too slowly on higher overloads to properly protect the' translating device.

As the curves 52 and 53 are representative curves respectively obtained from actual motors and from actual thermostats, their relative position may be varied by using a different thermostat. Thus if curve 53 be shifted toward the left, i. e. if a thermostat is used which reaches a predetermined temperature in a shorter time, the point of crossing of the two curves is shifted. The part of the curve to the left of the crossing point will be located a larger distance below curve 52. This means that the thermostat would cause de-energization of the motor sooner than is necessary. Stated in another way the motor would be de-energized before reaching thejzmaximum permissible temperature, and the motor illustrates such a curve. That is, if the normal current per phase of the translating device 11 be, say, ten amperes, and if the normal rating of the thermal relay 15 be also ten amperes, the thermal relay would operate too soon as is shown by the fact that curve 54 is located below the curve 52 throughout its entire len th'. I therefore employ a thermal relay W ich is normally rated for substantiallytwenty amperes, that is, I employ a thermal relay 15 which has a normal rating, that is much hi her than that of the translating device. urve 55 illustrates the time of operation of such a thermal relay and it may be noted that for moderate overloads the times of operation thereof, are above the values desired shown in curve52. For higher overloads over a predetermined load value, the times of operation are either below those of curve 52 or approach these values very closely.

- -The result of the operation of arelay hav- 7 ing a time load curve as shown in curve 55 is that it will not operate in time to interrupt the control circuit of the coil 14 for overloads below that value at which our es 52, 53 and 55 cross. This load value is slightly above 200% normal motor load in the curves shown in Fig. 5, but may be varied by employing thermostats and thermal relays of different thermal characteristicsso that any desired combination of time temperature operating characteristics ofthe control system may be obtained. 'It will be noted that that part of curve 55 below the crossing point is located a relatively large distance below the lower part of curve 52. This means that the thermal relays have a shorter time of operation,'for a predeter- "mined heavy overload, than is required for the motor or energy-translating device to reach a predetermined high temperature necessitating its de-energizationQ In other 'ly high temperature.

Words, the energy-translating device is deenergized ,well before it reaches a dangerous This is a highly desirable feature of the system embodying my invention as it operates to surely protect the energy-translating device which is heated very rapidly by the relatively high overload current traversing its windings. Because of this rapid heating of'the energy-translating device, an additional few minutes of operation at the high overload would cause a burnout. B providing a thermal relay which effects e-energization of the energy translating device sooner than demanded by the hot spot temperature. The device is adequately protected and can be kept in operation.

Hence, by the use of a.plu-rality of thermally-actuable means of different types of construction, which are connected in series circuit relatively to each other and to the actuating or holding-"coil of acircuit controlling device, I find it possible to reproduce v i an energy-translating device and'one or more current-energized and actuate relays, I find it possible to properly ,prote t an energy-- translating device under substantially all conditions of operation. It is obvious that one current-energized relay 15 alone will pro vide the proper protection, provided that there is no interruption in one of the phases of the circuit. It is preferable to provide at least two of these thermal relays in order to give further protection against phase failure in one of the phases.

If, for instance, two thermal relays 15 are provided as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and if the circuit through the uppermost supply circuit conductor were to be interrupted, a relatively large current would flow through the two remaining conductors, the motors opcrating as a single. phase motor. The excessive current traversing. the motor would also traverse the heating coil l? still in circuit and would cause operation of that relay within the proper time to prevent injury to the motor.

The use of a plurality of separate thermalall'conditions of operation occurring in actual practice, both normal and abnormal. The thermostat in direct operative engagement with the core'or iron portion of the translating device may be made effective to reproduce the tem perature conditions of the magnetizable material'and therefore to protectit against undue temperature rise in that portion of the translating device. Thermal relays energized in accordance with current traversing them and'the translating device, are effective to reproduce the temperature conditions in the windings ofthe translating device and are therefore effective to protect against undue temperature rise in the winding of an energy-translating device with which the relays are'associated.

Various modifications may be made in the control system embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art.

I claim as my invent'ron:

I. In a thermal control system for an energy-translating device comprising magnetic and electric conducting postions, the combination with a circuit controlling means for said device, of a plurality of thermallyactuable meahs having reciprocally relatively different times of operation above and below a predetermined load on the energytranslating device for governing said circuit controlling means, one'of said thermally-actuable means bemg responslve to and energized in accordance with the thermal condition of the magnetic conducting portion and actuatin'g'said circuit-controlling means up to a predetermined load on the energy translating device, and the other of said thermallyactuable means being energized in accordance With the current traversing the electric concontrolling means above ducting portion and actuating said circuit load. a

2. In a thermal control system for an energy-translating device, the combination with a circuit controlling means for the device, of a plurality of thermally-actuable means having reciprocally relatively different times of operation above and below a predetermined load on an energy-translating device for governing said circuit controlling means, one of said thermally-actuable means being directly thermally related to the ener y-translating device and governing said circuit controlling means up to the predetermined load, and a second thermally-actuable means being out of thermal relation with said translating device and etfectiveto govern the circuit controllin g means above the predetermined load.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of April, 1926.

VICTOR G. VAUGHAN.

the predetermined 

